“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35, NIV)
I recently attended a golf retreat in Alabama, hosted by Tim Philpot. Despite being able to play only 18 of 54 holes due to a bad back, my return on investment was well worth the 24-hour round trip by car.
I had just finished watching 1981 British Open highlights with 1981 British Open champion Bill Rogers Wednesday night (how cool is that!) when Tim hit me with the surprise: “Will you share what’s been happening with you the last 12 months with the group tomorrow morning?”
I’m usually fine in front of an audience, but you have to understand something—the four men who had already spoken had considerable experience at this kind of thing. Despite questioning Tim’s discernment, I agreed, knowing I could blame him if the message fell flat. Ha!
As some are aware, my wife was in treatment for appendix cancer much of last year, so that was the focus of my talk. In between tears, that is. The emotions are still raw, so each time I recount the story, the waterworks inevitably flow.
(Side note: Remember the old adage to picture an audience in their underwear? Sharing something so personal feels like just the opposite.)
I don’t remember all I said, but one of the scriptures I quoted was, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:17).
It may not seem like much, but if you’ve experienced one of those unspoken moments, you know the indelible mark it can leave.
Today’s verse reveals one aspect of that will. It is to love each other, and here are two examples from that Thursday.
I described Susan’s first surgery, which took place on Presidents Day 2020. Randy Wolff had come to the hospital to be with me during the procedure. I’m sure he told some great stories as he is wont to do, but I hope it doesn’t hurt his feelings to know I don’t remember a thing he said that day. What I do remember is that he was sitting next to me when I got the call from the surgeon in the operating room informing me my wife had cancer.
It’s been over a year and my wife has been blessed with healing, but I still had trouble expressing to those in the room how much it meant to me for Randy to be there.
The second example came that night. My message must have resonated with some based on interactions throughout the day, but at dinner I received the most memorable response.
As I was going to the buffet line, my new friend Jane jumped up from her chair to give me an empathic embrace and then returned to her seat. Didn’t say a word. Didn’t need to. It may not seem like much, but if you’ve experienced one of those unspoken moments, you know the indelible mark it can leave.
I think we sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to have the right thing to say for every situation. We are called to love one another, but I was recently reminded that love doesn’t require words.
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Drew Hamilton
March 22, 2021
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